National Republican., 1887-12-29
FEEDING TEE LITTLE ONE(.
CHRISTMAS DINNERS TO THE DISTRICTS
POOR CHILDREN.
Scenes Well Worth witncssing-How
and Where tho Youngsters wero Fed
Mrs. Cleveland an Interested Spec
tator at tho Rifles Armory.

hundreds OF children were vending their
way to the National Rifles Armory, where
some OF the poor of the city were to be the
guests OF the Christmas Club on the occa-
sion OF the annual dinner given by that
benevolent organization. The hour given
on the cards Of invitation, which had been
distributed by the police, was Q o'clock, but
long before that time every child that pos
sessed one Of the magic cards was seated
in the large hall on the upper floor OF the
building, and here they waited very pa
tiently for the signal that should summon
them to the feast which was being spread
down stairs. outside of the armory was
long string of youthful and anxious hui
msnity that had no ticket OF admission and
consequently could not get In. The
crowd numbered fully two hundred,
and had been sorted out according to sex,
the girls being on the eastern side OF the
main entrance while the boys occupied the
sidewalk on the west side They were only
moderately poor looking crowd. Not q
few pairs OF led cheeks were to be seen,
and one or two at least Of the aggregation
looked like anything but subjects for
charity. They made some noise though,
and Officer Boyd did not have such soft
snap ns be would probably have liked.
At the door was Sergeant "Jim" Blois, OF
the Rifles, and his task seemed to be very
laborlous, for II devolved upon him to see
that every man, won IN, and child that
entered had wiped their shoes dry and
clean upon the mats before treading on the
waxed surfaces Of the rooms.
In the dining room there was quite a
crowd Of walters and committee members,
The tables were in charge OF the following
ladies: Table No. Mrs. j. NJ. Wilson,
Miss Strong, and Miss Douglass. No. >
Mrs. Woodruff, Mrs. Van Reypen, and
Mrs. Brough. No. 3-Mrs. Barber, Mrs.
Brown, and Mrs. Symons. No. Airs.
Nathaniel Wilson, Mrs. Totten, and Mrs.
lard, Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. w. B. Webb.
No. 6-Mrs. Peacby, Miss Solomons, and
Miss McCalmont. All those who assisted
were decorated with the club white ribbon
badges, adorned with the letters O. O. c.,
and pendant from the badge was little
gilt bell. The majority Of the little wait
Iesses wore white caps Of various patterns,
and they all looked as pretty as an artists
ideal.
Just about Q O'Clock the white house car
riage, drawn by the "seal browns" and
controlled by Albert, came up G street and
stopped In front Of the armory. Officer
Boyd opened the door and DR.. Ward, of
Albany, and Mrs. Cleveland alighted. They
were Immediately conducted into the din.
ing room while the Marine Band played
"ClimbiDg Up the Golden Stairs,n and
were seated near the library door. Com
missioner and Mrs. Webb Immediately well
coined them, and O number OF committee
members were introduced to the fair lady
Of the white house. The gallant optics Of
Sergeant l.. Magruder, Of the Rifles, noted
the fact that Mrs. Cleveland's throne was
only common, every day. yellow stained
chair, and then he vanished, only to return
t,tlNl 4. Il 1na hos
holstered armchair, which he gracefully
offered the distinguished visitor; 1t was
accepted, and then the sergeant went be-
hind the scenes again, once more emerging
with duplicate chair In which he desired
Dr. Ward to rest his bones.
1t was after 12 o'clock when the last
plate Of turkey had been placed on the
table and the finishing touches given to the
arrangements. At each place, In addition
to the turkey, there was mashed potato
apple butter, bread, an apple, and one
orange.
- Mr.. Richard Smith then called the walters
to order, and requested them to take thell
proper positions, and q little while lstel
ne youngsters were trotted in. Their
what time they had plsaino then. prop
erly, and distributing them SO that there
boy or grill The police rendered excellent
service In this work; no other persons could
have done half so well, because the littl,
rsgamuf1ins were awed to certain extent
by the official character OF the gentlemen
in blue. Lieut.. Amiss was a busy man
and as good-natured as he was hard d.work
ing. Assisting him was Sergt. Dlggns
and Officers Burroughs, Proctor, Boy
Barney, Smith, and Fisher.
There were forty eight walters, member
Of the club, as follows:
Boys-Lewis Gleeson, Frank Phelp, Chas
Hull, Charley Gleeson, Howard Barker
Howard Burbank, Arnold Graves, Geo
IIGmlin, Fred. Calvert, Willard Grigsby
Wallace McGregor, Clarence Engel, Eugen
Searle, aud Alfred johnson.
Girls-Susie Plain, Jennie Reigart, Mag
gle Matthews, May Simmons, Hattie Eskew
Mabel Money, Kitty Donovan, May Drown
Briska Schneider, Nellie Harvel, Matti
Goodrich, Nellie Hyatt, Isabella Campbell
Annie Randlett, Roberta Allen, Berth
Gray, Annie Pierce, Mable Hemingway
Mabel Jirdinston, Amy Carr, Lena Stokes
May Sumner, Emma Dutton, Katy Stokes
Ada Duke, Maggie Loughran, sallie Meyers
Hill, Marie Young, liza Rodenstein. Ma
Joyce, Gertrude Clarke, and Fanni
Moore.
When everything was satisfactorily al
ranged Mr.. Smith called for order, auI
during the temporary lull which followe'
bis request the Rev. G. M. Pyne, of st
Johns Church, said grace, after which MI
follows: "Children, we are here for bu
one thing; that is, to eat--pitch In !" Th
oratorical effort was greeted with burs
OF laughter, and was succeeded by O rattl
OF knives, forks, and plates that was un
ceasing for more than half an hour. Fo
that space OF time fully $50 children at
ard were glad. They. displayed the ui
most good nature, and filled themselve
up without let or hindrance. The mos
crowded out set his plate nea
the middle of the table and ate his delici
cies as calmly ss though he wasSnot reaci
ing for every forkful over the head OF
little girl who was between him and th
table edge. Many Of the feasters were tin
little ones, whose chins were barely on
level with their plates, while not few O
the multitude We're tall of stature and RAP
IDLY nearing the time when they could II
longer be termed children.
The little walters and mattresses wer
most attentive, and 1t was pretty au
touching sight to see some we'll fed, dain
Dp dressed little missile look after the ten
poraiy wants of a hollow checked siste
whose clothing was none of the best an
whose stomach was too rarely ina satisde
condition.
While the meal was in progress, Mrs
Cleveland engaged In conversation wit
Commissioner Webb and with Miss Molli
Villas and Miss Pauline Whitney, only ono
in whilo glancing at the children at I'll
table near her.
BY o'clock the appetltes Of the crow
were appeased, and then the ice cream WI
. served In half-pint boxes, which were speet
lily emptled. One short haired, tough'lool
ing youngster, who looked as though
would rather fight than eat, fired his vacaI
box across the table at Girl and struc
her, but she was not OF the meek aud low
Kind, for 1t was returned promptly, au
was followed up by two Others which 81
t,tckfd nm The onntpst waped with yar,